Artesis Plantijn Hogeschool Antwerpen
Koninklijke Academie voor Schone Kunsten Antwerpen
campus Mutsaardstraat
Mutsaardstraat 31 - 2000 Antwerpen
T +32 3 213 71 00 - F +32 3 213 71 19
academie@ap.be
Making Change32747/1717/1920/1/36
Study guide

Making Change

32747/1717/1920/1/36
Academic year 2019-20
Is found in:
  • Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts, programme stage 3
    Choice option within specialisation:
    • Painting within Fine Arts
    Choice package:
    • aan opleidingsonderdelen naar keuze
  • Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts
    Choice option within specialisation:
    • Painting within Fine Arts
    Choice package:
    • Elective courses
  • Bridging Programme Visual Arts
  • Preparatory Programme Visual Arts
This is a single course unit.
Study load: 3 credits
Co-ordinator: Arkesteijn Roel
Languages: Dutch, English
Scheduled for: Semester 2
This course unit is marked out of 20 (rounded to an integer).
Possible deadlines for learning account: 09.03.2020 ()
Re-sit exam: is possible.
Possibility of deliberation: You have to pass this course unit (will never be deliberated).
Total study time: 24,00 hours

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this course.

Learning outcomes (text)

  • The student knows the relevant concepts concerting nature, environment and ecology.
  • The student knows the relevant developments within ecological art.
  • The student can reflect on his own artistic practice and can situate it within contemporary developments within the field of visual arts.
  • The student has a broader vision of the position of his/her own work in relation to other humane and scientific fields, including ecology.
  • The student can critically analyze (art) theoretical texts.
  • The student can write a concise interdisciplinary research case.
  • The student can explain his/her interdisciplinary research case orally.
  • The student is able to help realise the proposals in practice by identifying potential partners and cooperating with these partners.

Learning outcomes (list)

BA2 - The student has the necessary knowledge, skills and insights regarding material, form, action, concepts, function and contents of the chosen medi
The student knows the relevant developments within ecological art.
BA3 - The student knows about and understands the social, cultural, artistic, historical and international context of the visual arts and artistic praxis, and continues to develop this knowledge and understanding.
The student knows the relevant concepts concerning nature, environment and ecology.
The student can reflect on his own artistic practice and can situate it within contemporary developments within the field of visual arts.
The student has a broader vision of the position of his / her own work in relation to other humane and scientific fields, including ecology.
BA4 - The student develops and sharpens his/her critical and investigative attitude towards designs and/or realizations that arise from visual experiments and research, emotion and intuition.
The student can critically analyze (art) theoretical texts.
BA6 - The student understands the characteristics of his/her personal designs and/or realizations and is able to communicate about this in an appropriate manner.
The student can explain his interdisciplinary research case orally.
BA7 - The student is able to organize his/her artistic project in consultation with others.
The student can write a concise interdisciplinary research case.
The student is able to help realize the proposals in practice by identifying potential partners and cooperating with these partners.

Course content

This course has a strong interdisciplinary character and is aimed at developing active (visual) strategies to bring about concrete changes in a societal context in order to arrive at a more sustainable society. Within this course the boundaries of the visual arts discipline are explored and the more socially, politically and ecologically oriented views of artistic practice are highlighted.

Since the late sixties of the 20th century, various new art forms were developed internationally, often referred to using the umbrella term 'ecological art'. Over the past decades, these trends have gained momentum, partly as a result of alarming reports about climate change and the ongoing degradation of biodiversity. Various generations of artists have actively dealt with ecological issues in response to this. Many artists even map strategic to actively intervene in (local) ecological systems, often connecting different scientific areas, communities, politicians, policy makers and financiers.

The lectures and tutorials start from the visual art practice and reflect on the way artists can bring about change. attention is given to the most relevant trends in the field of nature and environment, and the work of pioneering eco-artists is addressed through, among other things, close-readings. In addition, phenomena such as permaculture, the global Transition movement and 'eco-villages' are also discussed, as are recent developments within the domain of garden and landscape architecture.

In the form of cases in and around the Academy, students then go on to research and set out to find ways to effect change in the daily environment on a small scale. By formulating achievable actions and identifying potential partners, the student works towards the concrete realisation of a project design.

Study material (text): Mandatory

A selection of professional literature, varying from artists' writings to literature on environmental activism and permaculture. For more: see digitap.

Educational organisation (list)

Learning Activities
Lectures and / or tutorials24,00 hours

Evaluation (text)

  • Written assignment and oral presentation.
  • Project (individual/group)